Roch Kubatko

Orioles have four shining moments

April 05, 2011, 4:04am

Orioles

My one shining moment came when I missed the first half of last night's UConn-Butler game. What a stinker. I've seen better basketball at the local Y. Jeremy Guthrie is remaining in good spirits despite missing the Orioles' home opener. He tweeted the following last night: "Initially thought I had BieberFever but turns out I have pneumonia. Feeling better but got myself an overnight stay at hospital. Go #Orioles." You can follow him: @JGuthrie46. And myself, of course: @masnRoch....

Tags:

Showalter talks about Weaver and Tyler

April 04, 2011, 3:17pm

Orioles

I can't pack up and leave the press box without passing along manager Buck Showalter's thoughts on catching the ceremonial first pitch from Earl Weaver and watching the video tribute to Ernie Tyler, who passed away in February. "Looking at the emotion in Earl there and how much he means to the people here in Baltimore and how special the time was that he allowed us to spend with him in spring training...there's a lot of vinegar there," Showalter said. "You can tell how much the Orioles...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles3 earl weaver freddy tyler

Showalter time

April 04, 2011, 2:57pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter hit on a variety of topics after today's 5-1 victory over the Tigers. Here's a sampler platter for you. It's made for sharing. No napkins required. Showalter couldn't possibly ask any more from his starters after four games. "No, you couldn't, especially with some of the challenges we've faced with Matusz and Duchscherer and a couple line drives off pitching arms toward the end of spring training," he said. "And now Bergy's going to have to pick up the slack...

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles brian roberts nick markakis

Guthrie diagnosed with form of pneumonia

April 04, 2011, 2:10pm

Orioles

Guthrie diagnosed with form of pneumonia

Jeremy Guthrie will remain hospitalized overnight after being diagnosed with a form of pneumonia, according to manager Buck Showalter. Guthrie has been scratched from Wednesday's start against the Tigers at Camden Yards. Brad Bergesen will take his place. The Orioles are hoping that Guthrie can take the ball on April 10, the original date that Bergesen was supposed to debut, against the Rangers at Camden Yards. No roster move is forthcoming. Guthrie blanked the Rays on three hits over eight...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles1 featured_sidebar jeremy guthrie

Arrieta follows tough acts

April 04, 2011, 1:08pm

Orioles

Earl Weaver has to be loving this team. A four-man rotation and three-run homers. It could be 1970. Koji Uehara has the sideburns for it. Jake Arrieta held the Tigers to one run and six hits over six innings, with two walks and three strikeouts. He threw 99 pitches, 60 for strikes. Not a particularly clean outing, but it was quality. Orioles starters have allowed two runs and 12 hits in 26 innings through four games. Remember when the rotation was the No. 1 concern as the Orioles broke...

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles3 jake arrieta

Roberts rolling along, Simon information (and more)

April 04, 2011, 12:37pm

Orioles

Roberts rolling along, Simon information (and more)

So when did Brian Roberts become an RBI machine? Doubles machine, yes. Stolen base machine, yes. This is something new. Roberts belted his second three-run homer in three days, his 388-foot shot to center field off Rick Porcello breaking a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning. Earl Weaver has got to be loving it. Roberts has eight RBIs on the young season, easily the most on the club. He's registered three multi-RBI games, one more than he mustered in the 2010 season, when he appeared in 59...

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles1 alfredo simon brian roberts

Observations on Wieters and Lee

April 04, 2011, 11:55am

Orioles

The Tigers tied the Orioles, 1-1 in the third inning on a one-out double by Brandon Inge and singles by Austin Jackson and Will Rhymes. Center fielder Adam Jones got a late jump on Jackson's fly ball into shallow left-center field. He appeared to take a step back before racing into the gap. Nick Markakis is 2-for-2. Matt Wieters isn't fast. There's no debating that point. He's one of the slowest players in baseball. But he tagged and took third on Jones' long fly ball to right, and he...

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles1 derrek lee matt wieters

Arrieta off to good start, Berken talks about his outing

April 04, 2011, 11:21am

Orioles

Arrieta off to good start, Berken talks about his outing

Jake Arrieta struck out Tigers leadoff hitter Austin Jackson. That's the way to kick off the home opener. Will Rhymes walked after falling behind, 1-2, and he stole second despite a great throw from Matt Wieters. Arrieta retired the next two batters, striking out Miguel Cabrera on a 93 mph fastball and bringing yet another loud ovation from the predominantly orange-clad crowd here at Camden Yards. Before the game, Jason Berken reflected on yesterday's outing at Tropicana Field. Pitching...

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles jake arrieta jason berken

Remembering Ernie Tyler, pregame festivities (with video)

April 04, 2011, 10:58am

Orioles

Remembering Ernie Tyler, pregame festivities (with video)

The pregame festivities began with a touching video tribute to longtime umpires attendant Ernie Tyler, who passed away Feb. 10. A plaque now hangs outside the Ernie Tyler Umpires' Room. The umpires will wear wrist bands with Tyler's initials. Nice touch. Manager Buck Showalter received a prolonged ovation, which he acknowledged with a tip of his cap. You knew it was coming, and it didn't disappoint. Showalter stood with his arms folded while a highlight video played on the big screen,...

Tags:

orioles ernie tyler frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles1

Showalter's home-opening remarks

April 04, 2011, 10:05am

Orioles

It's taking every ounce of discipline for me to avoid starting each blog entry with a Florida dateline. I'm back in Baltimore, right? Here are some comments from manager Buck Showalter: On how much he's thought about this day: "Certainly you give it some thought. We were so busy on the plane preparing for Detroit. I think this time of year it's such a whirlwind, it's tough to slow down a little bit and take in a moment. But I'm pretty good at that, so I will. The rest of them are just...

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles1 matt wieters

Random notes and Tigers lineup

April 04, 2011, 8:48am

Orioles

I'll pass along a few notes before the Orioles kick off the home portion of their schedule. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy bringing them to you. Luke Scott is still hoping to play Wednesday after sitting out yesterday's game at Tropicana Field with a strained groin muscle. He's not in today's lineup, but he's available to pinch hit if needed. "It feels much better," Scott said. "The real test comes when I put some effort into it, but I'm optimistic." Justin...

Tags:

orioles justin duchscherer luke scott

Guthrie hospitalized with flu (updated)

April 04, 2011, 8:18am

Orioles

Jeremy Guthrie is hospitalized with a bad case of the flu and could miss today's Orioles home opener at Camden Yards. The right-hander delivered the message in this tweet a short time ago. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed the news a few minutes later while meeting with reporters. Guthrie, who won the Orioles' season opener Friday in St. Petersburg, Fla., against the Rays, said he will be rooting for a victory from the hospital. He's still scheduled to make Wednesday's start against the...

Tags:

jeremy guthrie orioles frontstory_orioles1

Today's lineup

April 04, 2011, 7:29am

Orioles

The batting cage has been rolled on the field. We're getting closer to first pitch. No ivy in center field. And I'm pretty sure those are drink rails in the second deck in left field. Here's the Orioles' lineup, which will look more familiar to you: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF J.J. Hardy SS Jake Arrieta RHP

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles

Only 159 wins from perfection

April 03, 2011, 5:14pm

Orioles

I almost put a Tampa dateline on this blog entry, since I typed its first words after my Southwest flight took off for home tonight. I needed to get a head start. The morning is going to be a hectic one. I'll have to re-introduce myself to my daughter, who's going to love the spring training hooded sweatshirt that I bought for her at the Orioles store at Ed Smith Stadium. I'm proud that she did laundry, ironed, cooked her meals and ran the dishwasher while I was gone. Now I'm prepared for...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar matt wieters zach britton

Britton and Connor talk about today's outing

April 03, 2011, 1:27pm

Orioles

Britton and Connor talk about today's outing

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles hadn't swept the Rays at Tropicana Field since 2005. Zach Britton became only the second visiting pitcher to win his debut here since Marlins left-hander Scott Olsen on June 25, 2005. Let's hear from Britton: "I was really excited," he told reporters after finishing his interview on MASN2. "It really wasn't as bad. I remember spring training with Philly when I was really just everywhere. It wasn't that bad. After that first inning I started to get a...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3 zach britton

Showalter time (corrected)

April 03, 2011, 1:17pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - I scanned the Rays' postgame notes, saw a line about Zach Britton becoming the first Orioles pitcher to debut with six scoreless innings since Chris Waters, and ran with it. Then I realized he gave up a run and I made the correction. That's the beauty of a blog. You can go back and fix it. Now it's fixed. And now you've forgiven me. Manager Buck Showalter talked about Britton and hit on a few other topics after today's 5-1 victory over the Rays. On...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles1 j.j. hardy zach britton

J.J. Hardy talks about Britton and being 3-0

April 03, 2011, 12:50pm

Orioles

J.J. Hardy talks about Britton and being 3-0

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Lots to pass along following today's 5-1 victory that completed a three-game sweep of the Rays. The Orioles are 3-0 for the first time since the 1997 wire-to-wire season. Just saying... Here's shortstop J.J. Hardy on the sweep: "It's big. We had all the confidence in the world going through spring training and as many expectations as we've had on ourselves. It's nice to get off to a good start like this." J.J. Hardy joins the O's Xtra crew to talk about his big...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar j.j. hardy zach britton

Startling stats by starters (updated twice)

April 03, 2011, 12:00pm

Orioles

Startling stats by starters (updated twice)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jeremy Guthrie, Chris Tillman and Zach Britton - not exactly the top three you envisioned when putting together your rotation over the winter - held the Rays to one run and six hits in 20 innings in this series. Jake Arrieta has three tough acts to follow in tomorrow's home opener, which I'm told will be played with temperatures in the 70s. I really hope it holds true. Guthrie tossed eight scoreless innings in Friday night's season-opener, allowing only three hits....

Tags:

orioles

Davis gone, Britton in line for win (updated)

April 03, 2011, 11:35am

Orioles

Davis gone, Britton in line for win (updated)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the top of the seventh, and they're still batting. Cesar Ramos replaced starter Wade Davis after J.J. Hardy lined a two-run double into the left field corner. Matt Wieters led off with his second hit - yes, it was a good idea to bat him fifth - and Adam Jones followed with a single. Mark Reynolds doubled to break the tie and collect his first RBI as an Oriole. Felix Pie bounced to short against a drawn-in infield, but...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles3 zach britton

Britton allows first run

April 03, 2011, 10:44am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Zach Britton already knows the dangers of walking batters, but he got another reminder today. Britton opened the third inning by walking the last two hitters in the Rays lineup, Matt Joyce and Sam Fuld. Joyce scored with one out on Elliot Johnson's safety squeeze bunt. Joyce didn't break for home until Johnson laid down the bunt, so it wasn't a suicide squeeze. Britton caught two breaks in the inning. B.J. Upton appeared to drop a single into right field after the...